EC-Council 312-38 Practice Exams
Last updated on Oct 22,2026- Exam Code: 312-38
- Exam Name: Certified Network Defender
- Certification Provider: EC-Council
- Latest update: Oct 22,2026
Identify the type of event that is recorded when an application driver loads successfully in Windows.
- A . Success Audit
- B . Error
- C . Warning
- D . Information
D
Explanation:
When an application driver loads successfully in Windows, the event is recorded as an Information event. This type of event is used to describe the successful operation of an application, driver, or service. For instance, when a network driver loads successfully, it is appropriate to log an Information event. This is to provide confirmation that the driver has been loaded without issues, which can be useful for troubleshooting and monitoring system health12.
Reference: Microsoft’s documentation on event types1.
GFI EventsManager Support article on Windows Event Logs2.
Which VPN QoS model guarantees the traffic from one customer edge (CE) to another?
- A . Pipe Model
- B . AAA model
- C . Hub-and-Spoke VPN model
- D . Hose mode
A
Explanation:
The Pipe Model in VPN QoS is designed to guarantee bandwidth between one customer edge (CE) device to another. This model ensures a fixed amount of bandwidth is reserved for the traffic between these two points, providing a consistent and predictable service level. It is particularly useful in scenarios where a steady and reliable flow of data is critical. The Pipe Model contrasts with the Hose Model, which offers flexible bandwidth allocation based on the total amount of traffic entering and leaving the network, without guaranteeing individual flows between specific CEs.
Reference: This information aligns with the QoS strategies for VPNs that are part of the EC-Council’s Certified Network Defender (CND) curriculum, which includes understanding various QoS models and their implications on network traffic1.
What represents the ability of an organization to respond under emergency in order to minimize the damage to its brand name, business operation, and profit?
- A . Disaster recovery
- B . Incident management
- C . Emergency management
- D . Crisis management
D
Explanation:
Crisis management represents the ability of an organization to respond effectively during emergencies to minimize damage to its brand name, business operations, and profits. It involves identifying a threat to an organization and responding to it in a timely manner. Crisis management plans and processes can help an organization deal with unexpected events, ensuring that they are prepared to deal with potential disruptions. This strategic management process is designed to protect an organization from various risks and to prevent these risks from becoming bigger issues.
Reference: The explanation aligns with the Certified Network Defender (CND) course objectives, which include understanding the principles of organizational security and the effective management of crises to protect the brand and profitability1.
An attacker has access to password hashes of a Windows 7 computer.
Which of the following attacks can the attacker use to reveal the passwords?
- A . Brute force
- B . XSS
- C . Dictionary attacks
- D . Rainbow table
D
Explanation:
In the context of password hashes on a Windows 7 computer, a Rainbow Table attack is a feasible method an attacker might use to reveal passwords. This type of attack utilizes precomputed tables known as rainbow tables that contain hash values for every possible combination of characters. An attacker with access to password hashes can use these tables to look up the corresponding plaintext passwords. The effectiveness of rainbow tables stems from their ability to reverse cryptographic hash functions, which are used to store passwords securely. Since Windows 7 uses NTLM hashes, which are known to be vulnerable to rainbow table attacks, this method is particularly relevant12.
Reference: The explanation draws upon the known vulnerabilities of NTLM hash functions in Windows 7 and the general principles of rainbow table attacks as discussed in security literature12.
Which authentication technique involves mathematical pattern-recognition of the colored part of the eye behind the cornea?
- A . Iris Scanning
- B . Retinal Scanning
- C . Facial Recognition
- D . Vein Scanning
A
Explanation:
Iris scanning is an authentication technique that involves mathematical pattern-recognition of the colored part of the eye, known as the iris. This method uses the unique patterns in the iris to identify and verify an individual’s identity. The iris is a muscle within the eye that controls the size of the pupil and is visible from the exterior. It has a complex structure and contains many microscopic features that are unique to each individual, making it a reliable biometric for authentication purposes.
Reference: The explanation provided is based on standard biometric security protocols that recognize the iris as one of the most accurate and secure forms of authentication due to its stability and uniqueness12. Iris recognition technology is widely discussed in network security literature and aligns with the objectives of the Certified Network Defender (CND) course, which covers various methods of user authentication and identity verification1.
Lyle is the IT director for a medium-sized food service supply company in Nebraska. Lyle’s company employs over 300 workers, half of which use computers. He recently came back from a security training seminar on logical security. He now wants to ensure his company is as secure as possible. Lyle has many network nodes and workstation nodes across the network. He does not have much time for implementing a network-wide solution. He is primarily concerned about preventing any external attacks on the network by using a solution that can drop packets if they are found to be malicious. Lyle also wants this solution to be easy to implement and be network-wide.
What type of solution would be best for Lyle?
- A . A NEPT implementation would be the best choice.
- B . To better serve the security needs of his company, Lyle should use a HIDS system.
- C . Lyle would be best suited if he chose a NIPS implementation
- D . He should choose a HIPS solution, as this is best suited to his needs.
C
Explanation:
Lyle’s requirements indicate the need for a network-wide solution that is easy to implement and capable of dropping malicious packets to prevent external attacks. A Network Intrusion Prevention System (NIPS) is designed to be deployed across the network to inspect traffic and take action based on predefined security policies, such as dropping malicious packets. NIPS solutions are generally easier to manage and deploy compared to Host Intrusion Prevention Systems (HIPS), which require installation on individual endpoints. Moreover, NIPS can provide a centralized security solution for all the network nodes and workstation nodes that Lyle is concerned about, making it a suitable choice for his medium-sized company.
Reference: The Certified Network Defender (CND) course by EC-Council emphasizes the importance of understanding and using IDS/IPS technologies to protect, detect, respond, and predict network security incidents1. The course also covers the protect, detect, respond, and predict approach to network security, which aligns with the capabilities of a NIPS solution23.
Which of the following is an example of MAC model?
- A . Chinese Waterfall model
- B . Clark-Beason integrity model
- C . Access control matrix model
- D . Bell-LaPadula model
D
Explanation:
The Bell-LaPadula model is an example of a Mandatory Access Control (MAC) model. It is designed to maintain the confidentiality of information by enforcing access controls based on security classification levels. This model ensures that subjects (users) with a certain clearance level cannot read data at a higher classification level (no read-up) and cannot write data to a lower classification level (no write-down), thus preventing unauthorized access and information flow not permitted by the policy.
Reference: The Bell-LaPadula model is a foundational concept in computer security, particularly within the context of government and military applications where data classification and confidentiality are paramount12.
Dan and Alex are business partners working together. Their Business-Partner Policy states that they should encrypt their emails before sending to each other.
How will they ensure the authenticity of their emails?
- A . Dan will use his public key to encrypt his mails while Alex will use Dan’s digital signature to verify the authenticity of the mails.
- B . Dan will use his private key to encrypt his mails while Alex will use his digital signature to verify the authenticity of the mails.
- C . Dan will use his digital signature to sign his mails while Alex will use his private key to verify the authenticity of the mails.
- D . Dan will use his digital signature to sign his mails while Alex will use Dan’s public key to verify the authencity of the mails.
D
Explanation:
In the context of email encryption and digital signatures, authenticity is typically ensured through the use of a sender’s digital signature. Dan would use his private key to create a digital signature on his emails. This signature is unique to both the sender and the email content. Alex, on the other hand, would use Dan’s public key to verify the digital signature. If the verification process confirms that the signature was created with Dan’s private key and that the email has not been altered, Alex can be assured of the email’s authenticity. This process does not involve encrypting the entire email with a private key, as that would make it unreadable to anyone except the holder of the corresponding private key, which is not shared. Instead, encryption of the email content is typically done using symmetric encryption, where both Dan and Alex would use a shared secret key.
Reference: The explanation aligns with the principles of public key infrastructure (PKI) and digital signatures as outlined in the EC-Council’s Certified Network Defender (CND) program, which covers various aspects of network security, including email encryption and digital signature mechanisms12.
Jorge has developed a core program for a mobile application and saved it locally on his system. The next day, when he tried to access the file to work on it further, he found it missing from his system. Upon investigation, it was discovered that someone got into his system since he had not changed his login credentials, and that they were the ones that were given to him by the admin when he had joined the organization.
Which of the following network security vulnerabilities can be attributed to Jorge’s situation?
- A . System account vulnerabilities
- B . User account vulnerabilities
- C . Default password and settings
- D . Network device misconfiguration
C
Explanation:
Jorge’s situation is a classic example of the security risks posed by using default passwords and settings. When systems are set up with default credentials, they are often well-known and can be easily exploited by attackers. In this case, since Jorge did not change the login credentials that were given to him by the admin, it allowed unauthorized access to his system. This type of vulnerability is a common oversight that can lead to data breaches and unauthorized system manipulation. It is crucial for users and administrators to change default passwords to something secure and unique to prevent such vulnerabilities.
Reference: The information provided is consistent with best practices in network security, which emphasize the importance of changing default passwords and settings to protect against unauthorized access. This is supported by various cybersecurity sources, including the OWASP Foundation, which highlights the risks associated with insecure passwords and default credentials1. For detailed guidelines, the EC-Council’s Certified Network Defender (CND) course materials would be the authoritative source.
Liza was told by her network administrator that they will be implementing IPsec VPN tunnels to connect the branch locations to the main office.
What layer of the OSI model do IPsec tunnels function on?
- A . The data link layer
- B . The session layer
- C . The network layer
- D . The application and physical layers
C
Explanation:
IPsec VPN tunnels function at the network layer of the OSI model. This layer is responsible for the logical transmission of data across a network and includes routing through different network paths. IPsec enhances the security at this layer by providing features such as data integrity, encryption, and authentication. These features are crucial for establishing a secure and encrypted connection across the internet, which is essential for VPN tunnels that connect different network segments, such as branch locations to a main office.
Reference: The role of IPsec at the network layer is well-established in network security literature and is consistent with the Certified Network Defender (CND) program’s teachings on secure network architecture12. The network layer’s involvement in routing and data transmission makes it the appropriate layer for IPsec’s operation, aligning with the CND’s emphasis on understanding and implementing network security protocols34.